Russians Ground Lance Bass's Plans

FWIW............de WA1KAT
On Wednesday morning it was reported that 'N Sync wannabe astronaut, Lance
Bass, 23, was ready, willing and, most importantly, able to zoom into space
on a Russian rocket, reported Reuters. But by Wednesday afternoon, reported
the Associated Press, the Russians were saying nyet so fast. "The Russian
Aerospace Agency has had no contacts whatsoever with Mr. Bass," agency
spokesman Konstantin Kreidenko told the news service. "We have received no
requests from either him or his representatives, not to speak about signing
any contracts." Through David Krieff, a producer seeking financial backing
for Bass's purported trip (which carries a $20 million fee), it was said that
Bass recently underwent an unexplained surgical procedure to correct an
unexplained heart irregularity but had been informally pronounced physically
fit enough to make the journey. "He's in top physical condition, top mental
condition," Krieff said from Los Angeles, according to Reuters. Krieff went
on to say that next week Bass was due to commence a nearly six-month flight
training program at the cosmonaut center in Russia's Star City. But according
to Kreidenko: "Anyone has the right to undergo tests in the Institute of
Biomedical Problems. But that doesn't mean that such person is considered to
be a candidate for space flight." Furthermore, the clock is ticking on who
will get to go, given the preparation time involved. The AP, saying that it
appears no space tourist will join the trip, notes that Bass is scheduled to
hold a press conference later this week to clarify his intentions.
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